Operator - Annealing at Safal Group

Key responsibilities:

Operations & Process Control

• Operate and monitor annealing furnaces and associated equipment to achieve production targets while maintaining quality, safety and equipment reliability.
• Prepare furnace charges and process materials in accordance with approved operating procedures and production schedules.
• Monitor furnace parameters and process performance to ensure product quality and operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate production, inspection, downtime, quality and traceability records.
• Support preventive,planned and breakdown maintenance activities.
• Perform Autonomous Maintenance activities including inspection, cleaning, lubrication and early identification of abnormalities.
• Monitor operational performance and identify opportunities to improve productivity and reduce downtime.
• Support onboarding and coaching of new operators.

Quality Management

• Ensure all annealed coils comply with customer specifications, metallurgical requirements and established quality standards.
• Conduct routine quality inspections and identify product defects, process deviations and non-conformities.
• Escalate process abnormalities and quality issues for corrective action.
• Maintain product traceability through accurate production and quality records.
• Participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) and quality improvement initiatives.
• Drive right-first-time production and reduction of defects, rework and quality losses.

Safety, Health, Environment & Housekeeping

• Comply with all Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) requirements, statutory regulations and company procedures.
• Operate equipment in accordance with approved SOPs, Risk Assessments, Permit-to-Work systems and LOTOTO requirements.
• Identify, report and address unsafe conditions, hazards, near misses and environmental concerns.
• Participate in safety inspections, toolbox talks, emergency drills and safety improvement initiatives.
• Ensure proper use of PPE and compliance with 6S housekeeping standards.
• Exercise stop-work authority where activities present a risk to people, equipment or product quality.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through adherence to Zero Harm principles.

Continuous Improvement

• Participate in TPM, Kaizen and Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Support achievement of productivity, quality, energy efficiency and cost improvement targets.
• Participate in problem-solving initiatives including 5 Why Analysis and Root Cause Analysis.
• Contribute ideas aimed at improving safety, quality, efficiency and equipment reliability.
• Support implementation of Manufacturing Excellence initiatives across the department.

Requirements

Qualifications required:

Minimum academic qualification:

• KCSE Certificate
• Government Grade Test III in General Fitting, Mechanical Engineering Craft Certificate, or equivalent technical qualification.

Added advantage:

• Certificate in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Knowledge of Batch Annealing Furnace Operations.
• Knowledge of Heat Treatment Processes.
• Training in 6S, TPM and Autonomous Maintenance.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Management Systems

Experience required:

• General work experience (years): Minimum of three (3) years’ relevant work experience in machine operations in a similar manufacturing environment.
• Specific to the position (level/discipline/years):
• Minimum one (1) year of experience in annealing furnace operations or similar heat-treatment/steel processing operations.
• Experience in continuous manufacturing operations will be an added advantage.
• Industry experience: Minimum of three (3) years’ experience within a manufacturing, steel processing or heavy industrial environment.